Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, November 9, 2011:

Greg Brown & Rev. Sam Mann
+ Heidi Van, David Wayne Reed of “Bump”

1. Dirty Projectors & Bjork – “On and Ever Onward”
from: Mount Wittenberg Orca / Domino Records / October 24, 2011
[In 2009, Björk and Dirty Projectors, were asked to perform a charity concert of seven songs written just for the occasion. A year later they recorded the songs and released a digital-only format. Now over two years later the recording was released on CD and Vinyl by Domino Records. All proceeds from the digital sales at mountwittenbergorca.com go to the National Geographic Society for the project of creating international marine protected areas. Mount Wittenberg is located at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. The inspiration for the EP came when Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors saw a pod of whales off the coast while hiking at that spot.]

2. Baby Teardrops – “Flag of Inner Revolution”
from: X Is For Love / Independent / April 7, 2011
[KC native and former Doris Henson leader, Matthew Dunehoo’s new band, formed in NYC with Megan Thomas and Gerry White. Kansas City’s own Golden Sounds Records recently announced they were reissuing “X is for Love” on November 15th in digital, CD, and for the first time, vinyl formats. The release will also include exclusive remixes of album tracks. The Vinyl release party is Tuesday, November 25 at The Brick, 1727 McGee, Kansas City, MO with Olivetti Letter opening the show. We’ll hear more music from both bands on next week’s show.]

3. Alejandro Escovedo – “Street Songs”
from: Street Songs of Love / Concord Music Group / June 29, 2010
[10th studio album from 60 year-old singer songwriter and son of Mexican immigrants to Texas. The Escovedo family boasts several professional musicians: brothers (and percussionists) Coke Escovedo & Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E (Pete’s daughter & Alejandro’s niece). Escovedo began performing in the punk band The Nuns. In 2003, after having lived with Hepatitis-C for many years, Escovedo fell critically ill. Without medical insurance, Escovedo could not pay his substantial medical bills. Friends organized benefit shows that grew into the album Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, whose proceeds benefit the Alejandro Escovedo Medical and Living Expense Fund. Contributing musicians included Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, John Cale, Ian Hunter, The Jayhawks, Son Volt, and Sheila E.). In 2005, Escovedo was declared to be free of the disease]

[Alejandro Escovedo will be in KC in An Evening with Alejandro Escovedo and Friends, this Thursday November 10, at 10:00 PM at 1911 Main in Kansas City, MO presented by Midwestern Musical Company Production. KC’s own Dead Voices will be opening the show. Alejandro Escovedo will be backed up by a group of Kansas City musicians organized by Cody Wyoming featuring Cody Wyoming, Chris Meck, Erik Voeks, Mike Stover, Paul Andrews, Lauren Krum, Abigail Henderson and Katie Gilchrist. Tickets information at 1911 Main 816 527 0200 or call Midwestern Musical Company at 816 931 6962.]

4. Brown Bird – “Fingers To The Bone”
from: Salt For Salt / Supply & Demand Music / October 18th, 2011
[5th album from Rhode island based folk duo]

10:15 – Underwriting

5. Bleached – “Searching Through The Past”
from: Searching Through The Past EP /Suicide Squeeze Records / Dec. 6, 2011
[Limited to 750 copies! Sisters of the moon, Jennifer and Jessica Clavin make up the Los Angeles band, Bleached. The songwriting-duo return with the follow-up to their Carter 7-inch]

6. The Roots – “Make My”
from: Undun / Def Jam / December 6, 2011
[featuring Big K.R.I.T. The 13th studio release from the Late Night With Jimmy Fallon house band, and Philadelphia-bred hip-hop veterans the Roots. The album’s concept was partially influenced by Sufjan Stevens “Songs for Mighigan” album and the Roots close their new album with a cover and reinterpretation of the Sufjan Stevens song “Redford” from the Michigan Album.]

7. Richard Thompson – “Oops!…I Did it Again”
from: 1000 Years of Popular Music / Beeswing Music / 2002
[Released as a concert DVD with two audio CDs, this concert set’s encapsulation of 22 songs that trace a musical progression from the Middle Ages through Britney Spears, including rounds, madrigals, and British balladry that recall Thompson’s early days in Fairport Convention..]

10:30 – Interview with Heidi Van and David Wayne Reed

Last year when Heidi Van, David Wayne Reed and Bess Wallerstein joined heir comedic forces to create the new play, “White Nose Christmas” it ended up winning them a “Best of Kansas City Award” as Best Stocking Stuffer from The Pitch. The show was a hilarious send up, of reality TV personalities that told the story of Brindsay Cardilton, “a coke snorting celebrity, famous for being famous.” This year the three actor, producer, directors have joined forces once again to deliver their newest collaborative holiday show called “Bump” which continues the journey of Brindsay, just out of jail and rehab, who finds herself pregnant. In real life Heidi Van is 8 months pregnant and due to have her baby in just a few weeks. In this new production, Heidi, David and Bess continue the romp, poking fun at their hybrid celebrity character who is equal parts: Kim Kardashians, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears. “Bump” opens last Friday night and continues through Nov. 14 at the Fishtank Performance Studio, 1715 Wyandotte St. For more info you can visit: fishtanktheater.com.

In real life Heidi Van is 8 months pregnant and due to have her baby in just a few weeks.

“Bump” includes several musical production numbers choreographed by Ashley Otis.

“Bump” continues through Nov. 14 at the Fishtank Performance Studio, 1715 Wyandotte St. For more info you can visit: fishtanktheater.com or visit brownpapertickets.com.

10:45

8. Sara Swenson and The Pearl Snaps – “Always and Everywhere”
from: Never Left My Mind EP / Independent / Nov. 19, 2011
[The Pearl Snaps are: Ian Davidson, John Flynn, Brandon Graves, Sarah Magill and Roger Strong. Their new EP, “Never Left My Mind,” features five tracks recorded and produced in Kansas City by Mike Crawford and Beau Davidson. Sara Swenson & The Pearl Snaps EP Release is Saturday, November 19, at 7:00 PM at The Brick, 1727 McGee Street, Kansas City. THoward Iceberg & The Titanics will open the show.]

9. The Blind Boys of Alabama – “Run On For A Long Time”
from: e-town live volume 3 / e-town / Dec. 15, 2002
[Live recording from e-town radio show. The Blind Boys of Alabama play The Mildand this Saturday night, November 12 at 8:00 PM.]

10. Greg Brown – “Wash My Eyes”
from: In The Hills of California – Live from the Kate Wolf Music festival 1997 – 2003 / Red House / 2004 [Orig recorded on Greg Brown’s 4th studio release from 1988, “One More Goodnight Kiss.”]

11. Greg Brown – “Lovinest One”
from: Freak Flag / Yep Roc / May 10, 2011
[Accomplished songwriter, co-founder of the influential indie roots label Red House, and former musical director for Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio program,. While recording what was to be his next album lighting hit the studio where he was working, and Greg Brown lost the recordings. Greg, used the experience to turn inward and write more songs that comprise his 24th album: Freak Flag, the title track is all that remains of the lost original album. Greg wrote ten new songs, recording them at Memphis, Tennessee’s legendary Ardent Studios. Produced by Bo Ramsey, the album also includes a cover of Brown’s wife Iris Dement’s ”Let the Mystery Be” and Brown’s daughter Pieta’s song ”Remember the Sun.’]

11:00 – Interview with Sam Mann and Greg Brown

Grammy Nominated Greg Brown is one of the most repected singer songwriters working in music today. He started singing professionally at the age of 18 organizing early folk concerts in New York City. Portland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. In the 1980s, he worked nd toured extensively wiht A Prairie Home Companion. He also founded his own record label, named Red House Records after a home in which he lived in Iowa.

Greg Brown has release over 30 recordings and has allowed much of his music to be used to raise funds and awareness for environmental and social causes. His songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Ani DiFranco, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Iris DeMent and Joan Baez.

Greg Brown will be in concert in a rare KC performance with his wife Iris deMent, on Friday night, 11-11-11 at The Folly Theatre to honor and benefit United Inner City Services home of St. Mark Child and Family Development Center. For more info you can call the Folly Theatre Box Office at 816-474-4444 or visit: TicketMaster.com.

Also with us was Rev. Sam Mann, who last year retired after 40 years of serving as pastor of St. Mark Church at 1101 Euclid Avenue, in Kansas City’s East Side. Rev. Mann grew up in Alabama and came to Kansas City in the late 1960s. He has spent his lifetime working for civil rights and social justice issues. Rev. Mann is a father and grand father and friend to so many who have been inspired by his words and his work. He has dedicated his life to make the world a better place for children and families, working tirelessly to feed the hungry, house the poor, offer education and training, and help minority entrepreneurs open businesses. He helped organize the first National Urban Peace and Justice Summit to address gang violence. In 2004 the state-of -the art St. Mark Early Childhood and development Cents was completed at the cost of 5 Million dollars and in retirement sam continues to organize benefits to retire the mortgage on this amazing facility created to serve children and families in need.

In the 2002 Greg and Iris did a benefit concert for The Friends of Community Radio at Unity Temple on The Plaza. Later that year, on November 21, 2002 Greg married the singer-songwriter Iris DeMent in a private ceremony in the office of Rev. Sam Mann of St. Mark Church here in KC.

Greg Brown’s mother played electric guitar, his grandfather played banjo, and his father was an electrician who became a Pentecostal minister in Earlville, Iowa, and later converted to the Baha’i Faith.

Greg has three children: Constance, Zoe, and Pieta, from his first marriage, who are also musicians. Pieta Brown, has released several albums of her own and tours actively as of 2007.

11:15

12. Pieta Brown – “I’m Gone”
from: Mercury / Red House / September 27, 2011

Red House Records includes artists such as Pat Donohue, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, John McCutcheon and many more.

In 2005, Brown and DeMent adopted another daughter from Russia.
Living at the Hacklebarney Farm in Iowa with Iris.

13. Greg Brown – “He Reached Down” LIVE Performance
written by Iris DeMent and included on her 2004 release Lifeline. This song inspired by a sermon delivered by Rev. Sam Mann.

11:33 – Underwriting

Jeff Bridges won the 2009 Academy Award for best Actor for the film Crazy Heart. Greg Brown wrote a song that was included in the film and Jeff Bridges based his character partially on Greg Brown.

11:50

16. Greg Brown – “Stiff Old Bones” – LIVE Performance

Greg Brown will be in concert in a rare KC performance with his wife Iris Dement, on 11-11-11 at The Folly Theatre to honor and benefit United Inner City Services home of St. Mark Child and Family Development Center. For more info you can call the Folly Theatre Box Office at 816-474-4444 or visit: TicketMaster.com.

11:59:30

23. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]

Sources for Notes: Artist’s websites noted above and wikipedia.org

Show #394